Sunday Construction May Be Banned in Sagg

Suzanne and David S. Reynolds, professors and longtime residents of Daniel’s Lane in Sagaponack, attended a meeting of the Sagaponack Village Board on Monday to voice concern about the “degeneration of quality of life from construction work” in the village. Ms. Reynolds said that the “excruciating noise from drilling has ruined our summer and the summer of many others.”
Under current regulations, construction can go on seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sometimes, the Rey­noldses said, it continues even longer. They said noise has begun as early as 6 a.m. and gone on until as late as 9 p.m.
A police officer had been assigned some time ago to monitor the speed of trucks and enforce the noise ordinance, but Mr. Reynolds complained that construction vehicles “barrel down the road” with no consideration for pedestrians or cars entering or exiting driveways. Ms. Reynolds said she has seen “90 workers a day on a site near us for months . . . it is intolerable . . . a round-the-clock situation.”
Mr. Reynolds described “a constant flow of traffic in the area of Town Line Road and Daniel’s Lane, adding that he knows “several more tear-downs and big construction projects loom in the future.”
“Can we at least get one day of peace or restrict some of those hours?” Ms. Reynolds asked the board.
This was not the first time the board has heard these complaints, said Mayor Donald Louchheim. “We discussed it,” he said. “I am personally in favor of no construction on Sundays.” Lee Foster, the deputy mayor, agreed, provided that homeowners be allowed to use lawn equipment, etc., that day.
A public hearing will be held after a resolution is drafted, most likely in mid-September.
Monday afternoon’s meeting had 12 members of the public in attendance, which the mayor said is a “packed house for us.” Nearly all of them were there to listen to a discussion about revisions to the village code regarding lot coverage. East Hampton Town’s code was used as a reference for the revisions.
Mayor Louchheim explained that the goal was to try to keep development from being spread out “so that it chews up the entire parcel . . . to give breathing space around properties,” and to bring regulations in line with other municipalities. The current draft is rough, he said, and public input is not yet appropriate until the board is closer to having a more complete version, at which time a public hearing will be scheduled.
Another discussion involved the Old Stove Pub. A new owner plans to open it and file for a liquor license. John Woudsma, the village’s building inspector, advised the board of violations that must first be corrected, and Rhodi Cary Winchell, the village clerk, said she had told the new owner’s attorney about them. She added that the fire marshal also has issues of compliance.In other business, the board appropriated $5,000 for the tree fund for five “at risk” elm trees, in order to catch spring and fall beetles. Three bids will be requested.
John Walsh, representing the Wolffer Trust, showed the board requested photographs of the property at 183 Sagg Road on which the trust has proposed a four-lot subdivision of the 12.3 acres. The board had asked for photos to determine how visible the development might be to cars and pedestrians. Mr. Walsh was asked to return with more information as to the height of the houses with regard to nearby trees, and with specifics about open space requirements.
A site plan review of James and Jennifer Pike’s installation of an agricultural storage building, designated as “old business,” is off the agenda until at least September.